adminTHE rate at which house-breaking and robbery cases are occurring in Mutare and surrounding places is alarming. Unlawful entry cases have become the order of the day at the courts as arrested offenders are made to answer their charges. However, a big chunk of the reported cases are yet to be solved because detectives are still hunting for suspects.
Most of the cases are happening in affluent suburbs where well-to-do people live. Criminals strike big and get away with valuable property each time they pounce on houses located on the eastern side of the city. What is worrying residents is the rate at which the police are reacting to such cases when people raise alarm.
Elsewhere in this issue we carry a story in which Bishop Trevor Manhanga’s family was terrorised by three youthful burglars who pounced on his Morningside residence. The callous criminals heavily assaulted his family as they ransacked his house for valuables. They got away with $800 cash and an assortment of gadgets.
The man of cloth who was in Harare on business tried to call the police on the hot-lines but to no avail. The day was only served by his brother-in-law who quickly responded to his call and visited the house.
Even after the robbery, the police took long to attend the crime scene as they had no vehicle to use.
We are not policing experts but it is common cause that swiftly attending a crime scene will help police recover valuable evidence they need to conduct a thorough investigation.
More often than not criminals leave behind evidence that usually nail them. Finger print experts must attend quickly before victims panic and compromise valuable prints that would have been left by burglars. Yes, we know that times are hard but it is unhealthy for the police not to have a vehicle on standby that waits to be used on emergency assignments like this one.
It is unfair for the police to say there was no vehicle for several marked police vehicles are a must-see at pubs dotted around the city – it’s a case of misplaced priorities. There is also need by the police to ensure that night patrols are adhered to. In most cases, junior officers who conduct these patrols never move around the said locations they are assigned to at prescribed times.
Soon after leaving the charge office after getting orders from the duty officer they seek shelter in vehicles parked at night car parks while some enjoy themselves at nearby drinking spots. They will be no one manning the suburbs and burglars pounce in their absence.
We urge senior police officers to make a follow up and ensure that their subordinates are not getting paid for doing nothing yet crime rules. In the same vein, we urge residents to form neighbourhood watch committees to help the police combat crime. Statistics have shown that low crime rates are recorded in locations where there are effective watch committees.
If households pay a $1 every week and employ hundreds of people who are failing to seek employment to man locations at night, burglary cases will drop. In most cases, these idle youths who have no income are the ones who are waking up at night to house break.
Fighting crime requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders.
Online Reporter